#WeNeedToTalk

Malynda Hale
  • 4.9 (70)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

#WeNeedToTalk is hosted by actor, singer and activist Malynda Hale. Leading with the motto that everything begins with a conversation, #WeNeedToTalk is centered around heartfelt one on one conversations, with an emphasis on social justice, politics, religion, society, and culture. Listeners will enjoy meaningful discussions with Malynda and a variety of special guests. malyndahale.substack.com

  1. Facts & Context: 5 Ways People are Surviving Right Now

    3d ago

    Facts & Context: 5 Ways People are Surviving Right Now

    Facts & Context: The Quiet Ways People Are Trying To Survive Right Now A lot is going wrong right now. But people are not waiting around. Here are five impactful ways communities are surviving and fighting back. 1. Food SNAP participation has dropped by 3.5 million people since last July and the Congressional Budget Office projects 2.4 million people will lose benefits every month over the next decade. In response people are building community refrigerators, mutual aid networks, community gardens, and buy nothing groups. Find your local mutual aid network or buy nothing group this week. If one does not exist start one. 2. Energy Energy prices are rising at double the rate of inflation. Balcony solar — also called plug-in solar — is a practical response. Systems start at $200, plug into a standard outlet, require no major installation, and can save households hundreds annually. More than 30 states have passed or introduced legislation to expand access. Search balcony solar and your state to see where things stand. Sources: ● World Resources Institute ● Canary Media ● State Affairs 3. Mental Health 49,000 Americans died by suicide in 2024. Therapy costs $100 to $200 per session without insurance. People are turning to peer support networks, online communities, and faith spaces to bridge the gap. Check out Open Path Collective for affordable therapy options starting at $30. 4. Voting Rights A federal court just blocked Alabama’s discriminatory congressional map. That is a win. People are organizing at the local level — school boards, city councils, county commissions. Local elections have direct impact on your daily life. Find out when your next local election is and show up. 5. Community Community is not a buzzword. It is a survival strategy. Mutual aid, peer support, showing up for strangers — this is how people have always survived the unsurvivable. Do one thing this week for someone outside your immediate circle. Everything begins with a conversation. What are you doing to survive this moment? I write about faith, justice and moral clarity, giving language to the things you feel but struggle to say. Become a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit malyndahale.substack.com/subscribe

    20 min
  2. #WeNeedToTalk: In Conversation w/ Juliana Stratton

    4d ago

    #WeNeedToTalk: In Conversation w/ Juliana Stratton

    I have been paying close attention to who is showing up with both a clear vision and the receipts to back it up. Juliana Stratton is one of those people. The Illinois Lieutenant Governor is running for U.S. Senate and I had the opportunity to sit down with her for a full conversation about what is actually happening in this country and what she plans to do about it. We covered a lot of ground. The minimum wage and why $25 as the federal minimum is necessary. The dismantling of the Department of Education and what a real restoration plan looks like. Why Democrats keep getting outmessaged by Republicans even when the Republican message is objectively worse. Black maternal health and how Congress addresses the specific needs of specific demographics without reducing everything to a DEI debate. The real Chicago that people who have never been there do not know. And the conversation she thinks we are not having enough of right now. Juliana Stratton has been delivering for Illinois for a decade. She has the track record, the clarity, and the urgency this moment demands. Watch the full interview. And if you are in Illinois or know someone who is please share this. Local elections and state races matter more than ever right now and this is exactly the kind of candidate worth paying attention to. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit malyndahale.substack.com/subscribe

    20 min
  3. #WeNeedToTalk: The Iran Conflict, Energy Prices, and What It Means For All Of Us

    Apr 30

    #WeNeedToTalk: The Iran Conflict, Energy Prices, and What It Means For All Of Us

    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit malyndahale.substack.com/subscribe

    20 min
  4. #WeNeedToTalk: Solo In Conversation

    Apr 17

    #WeNeedToTalk: Solo In Conversation

    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit malyndahale.substack.com/subscribe

    27 min
  5. In Conversation w/ Stewart Mitchell ( Animal Rights Activist)

    Apr 10

    In Conversation w/ Stewart Mitchell ( Animal Rights Activist)

    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit malyndahale.substack.com/subscribe

    35 min
  6. #WeNeedToTalk: Energy Bills Relief Act

    Mar 30

    #WeNeedToTalk: Energy Bills Relief Act

    Here is a link to the Energy Bills relief Act Proposal: https://seec.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/seec.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/26.01.21-energy-bills-relief-act-summary_0.pdf What the Energy Bills Relief Act would actually do: It focuses on one core goal: lowering energy costs for everyday people. Add more affordable energyWhen demand is higher than supply, prices go up. This bill restores incentives for renewable energy (the cheapest and fastest to scale), expands solar (including community and large-scale options), and speeds up projects that are currently stuck in red tape — so relief doesn’t take years. Modernize the gridOur energy system is outdated. This bill invests in infrastructure so energy can move more efficiently between regions, lowers connection costs, and reduces risks from things like wildfires — all of which helps bring costs down. Put affordability over profitsIt cracks down on price gouging and stops expensive, outdated energy sources from being artificially propped up — because too often, those extra costs get passed on to us. Put people firstThis includes making homes more energy-efficient (like insulation and sealing leaks to lower bills), sharing benefits with communities, and protecting families from utility shut-offs — especially those already struggling. Bottom line:More supply + better systems + fairer pricing = lower bills and more stability for families. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit malyndahale.substack.com/subscribe

    16 min
  7. #WeNeedToTalk: In Conversation w/ Maya May

    Mar 27

    #WeNeedToTalk: In Conversation w/ Maya May

    Malynda chats with comedian, strategist and political commentator Maya May. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit malyndahale.substack.com/subscribe

    37 min
  8. Black Evangelicals and Christian Nationalists w/ Malynda Hale

    Mar 9

    Black Evangelicals and Christian Nationalists w/ Malynda Hale

    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit malyndahale.substack.com/subscribe

    45 min
See All (235)

4.9
out of 5
70 Ratings

About

#WeNeedToTalk is hosted by actor, singer and activist Malynda Hale. Leading with the motto that everything begins with a conversation, #WeNeedToTalk is centered around heartfelt one on one conversations, with an emphasis on social justice, politics, religion, society, and culture. Listeners will enjoy meaningful discussions with Malynda and a variety of special guests. malyndahale.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Malynda Hale
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    235
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Malynda Hale
  • Show Website
    #WeNeedToTalk